Electrical devices for the application of fluid to the gums



Aug. 7, 1962 ELECTRICAL DEVICES FOR THE APPLICATION OF FLUID TO THE GUMSYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/II A. LEMOS Filed NOV. 8, 1960FIG.2.

l [1/ X //Y /X/ WIIIIIIIAWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAUIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

dlton zyg 3,048,170 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 fire 3,048,170 ELECTRICALDEVICES FOR THE APPLICATION OF FLUID TO THE GUMS Albano Lemos, 6404 SW.16th St., West Hollywood, Fla. Filed Nov. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 67,986 3Claims. (Cl. 128172.1)

This invention relates to a device for treating the gums in a manner toreduce the sensitivity caused in teeth primarily because of gumrecession.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this characterwhich can be used to advantage by the sufferer, the device beingeffective to greatly relieve the pain and annoyance caused by gumrecession.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which shall have aself-contained source of electrical energy, and which shall, through themedium of a brush, or other liquid-carrying element, cause a liquidsolution or medicament carried by the brush, to be electricallydispersed at the point of contact of the brush with the gums.

It is an object of the invention to provide a small and compact deviceof this kind, readily carried by and handled by the patient for self useand application when and where required.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a devicewhich, by application of a suitable fluid to the dentine and cementumduring the imposition of a negative electrical charge thereon, shallprovide electrical stimulation which will aid materially in increasingthe penetrating effect of the fluid, thus promptly relieving the pain.

The invention contemplates the provision of a metallic barrel or casingcontaining batteries arranged end-to-end and having their positive poleelectrically connected to the barrel or casing. The negative pole of thebatteries is electrically connected to the metallic ferrule of a brushor a similar filamented, or other type applicator. With an arrangementas described, current will flow from the positive pole of the batteries,through the ground including the body of the user engaged in holding thedevice to reach the brush applicator then charged with a suitable liquidsolution or medicament.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I havedevised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularlypointed out in the claims appended hereto.

in the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of theinvention is disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the shaft, and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the brush that is adapted to be fittedon the end of the shaft.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates an elongated cylindrical barrelforming the casing of the device and constituting a receptacle forholding a plurality of dry cell batteries 24 arranged in end-to-endrelation. The barrel or casing 5 is open at its opposite ends, as shownin the drawing.

Fixedly mounted in one end of the barrel 5, as by a friction or pressfit, is a plug 6 which is preferably composed of plastic, hard rubber orother suitable nonconducting material. The plug 6 is provided with a hubportion 7, an enlarged collar 8 and a reduced sleeve portion 9. When theplug 6 is fitted in the end of the barrel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thecollar 8 is flush with the outer diameter of the barrel.

The plug 6 is provided with an axial bore 10 to receive a metallic shaft11, shown separately in FIG. 3. The plug 6 is further provided with arelatively enlarged 5 prevents axial displacement of the shaft.

bore 12 which terminates inwardly in a conical concentric recess '13.The shaft 11 is preferably knurled upon a portion of its outer surface,as shown at 14, to be frictionally engaged within the bore 10 in a pressfit that The shaft is provided at one end with an enlarged head portion15 that seats in the bottom of the bore 12. At its opposite end, theshaft 11 is formed with a tapered, frustroconical extension or tip 16which is bifurcated or longitudinally split, as indicated at 17, toprovide for resiliency or springiness in this tip portion of the shaft.

Adapted for removable fitment upon the tapered or tip portion 16 of theshaft 1 1, is a conical ferrule 18 constituting a part of a brushholder. Extending at an angle from the ferrule 18 and thus forming anoff-set extension thereof, is a tubular sleeve portion 19 which holdsthe bristles or filaments 20 of the brush and from which portion thebristles project substantially as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The shaft11 is composed of metal, as is the ferrule 18 and its bristle-holdingextension 19.

Disposed in contacting relation with the head 15 of the shaft 11 is ametallic button 21 connected with a compressible spring 22. At itsopposite end, the spring 22 is provided with a contact button 23.

The batteries 24, located within the barrel 5, are preferably aplurality of relatively short and slender type of dry cell batteries andare arranged in end-to-end contacting relation, with the batteriesdisposed in a manner to position their negative ends downwardly or in adirection toward the spring 22. The spring 22 biases the batteries inelectrical contact through the length of the barrel. The opposite, orrear end, of the barrel is internally threaded at 25 to receive aclosure cap 26 composed of metal. The cap 26 serves to force the severalbatteries 24 into contacting engagement by compressing the spring 22when the cap 26 is screwed into closure position. The barrel 5 ispreferably formed of a light weight metal, such as aluminum, which has ahigh degree of electrical transmission, and with the barrel constitutingthe handle whereby the user can hold and manipulate the device with onehand. The tapered end or tip 16 of the shaft 11 projects axially beyondthe reduced portion 9 of the plug 6 and is thus exposed in a manner topermit the conical ferrule 18 of the brush to be readily slip-fitted onit and be retained thereon by frictional fit aided by the bifurcatedformation of the tapered end 16.

As will be noted from FIG. 1, the batteries are so positioned in thebarrel that the positive pole 30 of the rearmost battery contacts withthe cap 26 while the negative end 31 of the foremost battery contactswith the bottom 23. The contact between the several batteries is suchthat the positive pole of each battery engages against the negative poleof that located behind it, with the positive pole 30 of the rearmostbattery disposed in contact with the cap 26, as just explained.

Before using the device, the brush filaments 20 are dipped into a liquidsolution, which can, for example, be sodium fluoride, sodium chloride,or any other suitable fluid which has been found eflicaceous in gumtreatments for desensitizing purposes. The liquid with which the brushis thus charged, has electrical conductivity and hence will conduct anegative charge of electricity to the gums or teeth areas when thebristles are applied thereto.

After brush is dipped into the liquid, the user grasps the barrel 5 inone hand and applies the bristles of the brush against the gums andbases of the teeth within the sensitive area. The bristles of the brushcan enter between the teeth so that liquid carried by the bristles willbe applied thereto. When the brush is thus applied, current flows fromthe positive pole 30 of the batteries, through the cap 26, barrel 5,through the ground including the body of the user, to the brush holder18 by way of the liquid-charged bristles 20 and to shaft 11 to the negative pole 31 of the batteries. A negative charge of electricity is thusapplied to the gums in and around the bases of the teeth and thesolution or medicament with which the brush is charged is thuselectrically penetrably applied at the point or points of sensitivity.

Tests made with this device have indicated that the application of ade-sensitizing fluid to the dentine and cementum while the gums arebeing subjected to a negative electrical charge results in stimulationof the gums to an extent to materially increase the penetrability of thefluid with a marked increase in its effectiveness. Very beneficialresults for lengthy periods of time have been secured.

The device is small and easily portable and can thus be available forimmediate use whenever required. The batteries are preferably of astandard, easily-procurable type and when fitted in the barrel provide aself-contained source of current. The brush is removable, inexpensiveand easily replaced and its ready removability permits of sterilizationif it is found necessary or desirable.

While it has been herein suggested that the liquid-applying means shallbe a fibred or filamented element, such as a brush, a liquid-carryingsponge, pad or other conveyor of the liquid to the point of applicationcould be used. However, for most purposes, a soft-bristled brush isprobably the most desirable since its bristles or filaments more readilyextend between the teeth and into gum recesses.

Having thus described a single embodiment of the invention, it isobvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broadenough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical device for the application of a fluid to the dentineand cementum comprising, a tubular metallic casing, a plurality ofbatteries placed end-to-end in the casing, the rearmost battery thereinhaving its positive electrode in electrical contact with the casing, theforemost battery in the casing having its positive electrode in contactwith the negative electrode of the rearmost battery, a plug ofinsulating material fitted in the front end of the casing and having atubular extension projecting forwardly of the casing, the plug having alarger-diameter rear portion fitting within the casing, the plug havingan axial passage extending through it, said passage having a seatprovided in its larger-diameter portion, a shaft extending through thepassage, said shaft having a head at one end disposed against the seat,the foremost battery having a negative electrode extending toward thehead, a contact spring disposed between the negative electrode of theforemost battery and the head and establishing electrical contactbetween the said elec- 1 trode and the head, the shaft having a taperedforward end extending beyond the plug, said tapered end being split, asleeve provided with a brush at one end and a conical cup at its otherend, said cup being adapted for removable fitment over the split end ofthe shaft.

2. An electrical device for the application of a fluid to the dentineand cementum comprising, a metallic handleforming barrel open at itsopposite ends, a metal cap closing one end of the barrel, batteriesdisposed in the barrel and having a positive pole in contact with thecap to thereby form the handle into a positive electrode, a plug ofnon-conducting material fitted in the opposite end of the barrel andprovided with an axial passage, a metallic shaft extending through saidpassage, said shaft having a head on its inner end within the barrel,means extending between said head and the negative pole of the batteriesfor electrically connecting the negative pole of the batteries with saidhead, the opposite end of the shaft extending beyond the forward end ofthe plug, and a brush provided with a tubular ferrule fitted on theextended part of the shaft, the brush including filaments which, whencharged with a fluid serve to establish a negative electrical chargebetween the shaft and the surface of the gums against which thefilaments are applied.

3. An electrical device for the application of a fluid to the dentineand cementum comprising, a metal barrel, batteries contained within thebarrel and having a positive pole establishing electrical contact withthe barrel, a shaft located at one end of the barrel and electricallyinsulated therefrom, a plug of insulating material fitted in the end ofthe barrel and interposed between the shaft and barrel and insulatingthe shaft from the barrel, the shaft having an outer 'end projectingbeyond the plug and having an inner end facing toward the interior ofthe barrel, the batteries having a negative pole disposed adjacent tothe inner end of the shaft, a spring for establishing contact betweensaid negative pole and the inner end of the shaft, and a brush having ametal ferrule fitted on the projecting end of the shaft and connectedthereto to receive a negative electrical charge from the batteries, thebnish having bristles which, when charged with a liquid, and applied tothe gums will conduct the negative charge thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS789,161 Linn May 9, 1905 954,083 Gay Apr. 5, 1910 2,100,234 Belknap Nov.23, 1937 2,949,107 Ziegler Aug. 16, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 654,901 FranceDec. 7, 1928

